Rust

when i was a boy

we’d climb

the suspension bridges

 

hoist ourselves up

to the cables

and grab on

 

gloves always helped

 

we'd grasp at the

cold metal

look down

at the roadbed

the icy water

300 feet below

and never think

about falling

or maybe

it would be

the boom

of a construction crane

suspended above

the top of a

sixty story skyscraper

hawks screaming past

our ears

 

but now

i only watch

as the bacon grease

congeals

and wonder

about its lustrous sheen

as it forms a plug

that you can swallow

if you like

and think

how did I get to be

so old?

 

 

Reviews

[roarke]

all bacon aside... you've got the blueprint for the fountain of youth before you. Your piece deftly brought the essence of youth to life in a few strokes, holographic emotion. In age, we redefine adventure so it doesn't include death defying trapeze work...
Excellent stuff.

[Clockwork]

I really liked the contrast between the adventures of youth and the cautious actions of adulthood. It makes me think that at some point we realize we are not immortal and thus we protect our lives in a new way, even if that limits our sense of being in the end.

I suppose time tends to take us by the hand in that way and abscond with our youth while we are in the heart of our prime.

It makes me hope that the bacon will be good twilight of life.

The fourth stanza is my favorite.

[Michael Stevens]

You mean I'm not alone in wondering this? Excellent poem!

[Relic]

I agree with all of what Muse said. We do slow down as we get older. I used to ride motorcycles when I was younger. I did the wheelies and jumps and all the other crazy stuff. Today I question whether I can even get on one again. I liked the simplicity of this one, nice writing.

[Melobldnfr]

So...I'm not the only one who makes adjacent food references? Lol. Good poem. I like the title and pic, too. Thanks.

[Baby Ricochet]

Nice Imagery

[Robin]

Must have been the Antioxidants ...

[Muse]

but now
i only watch
as the bacon grease
congeals
and wonder
about its lustrous sheen
as it forms a plug
that you can swallow
if you like


My arteries dear friend...ache! I feel old too...but maybe it's because we no longer live life going fast-forward....the older we get...we put things on rewind....we need to rewind...replay...rewind...and replay slowly. Our memories do get cold and slow...like bacon grease...harder to digest....harder to retain without clogging up our hearts....our minds.

Over time....we lose confidence to climb...climb....
the suspension bridge.

[Michael G.]

Smiles at memories of youth returned. Well done.

[Penlady]

I feel dams bursting here and all of a sudden I'm feeling the tears and telling myself everything will be okay and no matter how much time is left...it can be good time. I have at least twenty years on you so....

your poem envisions the giant metal skeletons of boyhood and the youthful bravado it takes to scale them
Equisite writing....I hope all is going well
I'm wishing you and yours peace and contentment